polystyrene
Polystyrene (abbreviated PS) is a polymer that is produced by the polymerization of styrene (vinylbenzene). It is widely used, for its thermal insulation and protective properties it is used as thermal insulation and packaging material. It belongs to the group of polyolefins. We recognize two basic types of polystyrene — standard thermoplastic polystyrene (heavy) and expanded polystyrene (light).
Polystyrene is sold under several names: Luran, Lustron, Styropor, Styrodur, Styroflex, and Sagex.
History
Polystyrene was first prepared by accident in 1839 by the German pharmacist Eduard Simon. During the distillation of styrax (Liquidambar orientalis resin), he obtained an oily liquid, which he named styrol. A few days later, Simon noticed that the oil had solidified. He assumed that it was the oxidation of styrene by atmospheric oxygen, so he named the solid substance styrene oxide. However, in 1845, the English chemist John Blyth and the German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann discovered that the same transformation of styrene takes place even without the presence of oxygen and named the product metastyrene. Later analysis proved that metastyrene and styrene oxide are identical compounds. In 1866, Marcelin Berthelot correctly determined that metastyrene was formed from styrene by polymerization.
Later, it was discovered that just by heating styrene, a chain reaction occurs, the product of which is a macromolecular substance. This fact led to today's name of the compound — polystyrene. The German company IG Farben started producing polystyrene around 1931.